Regional Director Melissa Hemphill

Life is possible through rhythm: orbits, biogeochemical cycles, heart beat, breath, sleep, menstrual cycles, and metabolism. Without rhythm, disorder and disease occur. This is as true for heart arrhythmias as it is for metabolism. If you feel lost or uncomfortable in your relationship with food, rhythm is a beautiful place to start taking action. Learn how to work with your innate metabolic rhythm and how sleep complements this important Mind-Body Nutrition Dimension. This webinar will provide you action steps that are immediately applicable to your life and your future motherhood transitions.
The big “so-what” around Mind-Body Nutrition is that what you eat isn’t the whole story of effective nutrition. Who you are as an eater (the thoughts, beliefs, and desires you bring to the table) informs your metabolism just as much, if not more, than what you actually consume. This is because digestion is optimized in the Parasympathetic state, or full Autonomic control. You can literally … [Read more...]

I was an in-season, Division 1 pole vaulter when I found out I was pregnant. People told me my Olympic dreams were over. They said your body will never be the same after birth. You blew your chance.
As a young, misinformed mother, I rushed through that first postpartum experience to prove everyone wrong. I had to return to competing as fast as possible. It was a time to push harder, be more disciplined, and get back on the runway.
With this mindset, it took years to actually heal—not just physically either. On top of core and pelvic floor dysfunction, I was depressed and had all kinds of disordered eating habits. I didn’t see postpartum as a time to rebuild; I saw it as an unwanted obstacle to overcome.
Returning to basics allows an athlete the opportunity to rewrite old programming and come back stronger. I didn’t get that my first postpartum. In fact, through my rushing, I made the recovery process 2-3x longer (hence the origin of “fast is slow”).
Postpartum is an … [Read more...]

https://www.facebook.com/LoganGelbrich/videos/10101412531921746/
You know those events or moments in life where you just need a good nights sleep (or 2) to really digest and assimilate everything that happened? The first-ever, BIRTHFIT Coach Seminar was one of those events. For the entire last week, I've been reflecting on "what the heck just happened, how did this happen, and how do we do this again?" Being part of the seminar staff was such a gift. I was privileged to witness the long hours of behind-the-scenes prep, the beautiful, daily intention created by Dr. Lindsey Mathews, and the authenticity of the entire seminar (staff and participants alike).
Most people signed up so that they could expand their coaching tools for their pregnant and postpartum athletes. They definitely got that... developmental kinesiology and ontogenesis, physiological adaptations during pregnancy, appropriate movements to train for birth, and to rehabilitate postpartum. What they … [Read more...]

http://www.birthfit.com/2017/01/26/daily-practices-creating-space-evolve/
"We all love a sense of completion: arriving, finishing, mastery. Just the other day, I made a checklist and included things I had recently accomplished just so I could get the satisfaction of checking them off my list. True story.
But BIRTHFIT’s four pillars – fitness, nutrition, mindset, and chiropractic – are not checklist items.
The BIRTHFIT team often hears moms say, “I’ve got the [fitness, nutrition, mindset, chiropractic] pillar down, I just need help with this one.” That’s a red flag. We’re happy you have investigated some of the pillars, but you’re missing the point. The pillars are the path—not the destination. The path is made by walking it. Be in consistent action around the four pillars and you will ultimately find your life enriched by them.
A statement like the one above also indicates a fixed, not growth, mindset. I certainly don’t think I have all the answers, but I do believe … [Read more...]

At yoga yesterday, I went to my mat with the intention of entering 2017 more grounded. If I'm being totally honest, my 2017 calendar is daunting. Between the active duty military opportunities, BIRTHFIT classes and workshops, and family events, I felt a little dizzy looking into next year. It's not just the time demands that frighten me, it's how I'm being called to show up at each engagement. I don't feel ready or qualified to lead in the way I want to lead. I have an abundance of positive intention but make mistakes despite it. The sweet yoga instructor seemed to see into my soul and shared this phenomenal quote from one of my all-time favorite authors, Neil Gaiman:
"And for this year, my wish for each of us is small and very simple.
And it's this.
I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.
Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing … [Read more...]

I am so honored to be featured by Our Goddess Movement! The co-founders, Debi and Alisha, and are pure souls spreading love and empowerment. They believe greatness is not just in some of us, but in all of us. They believe everyone has the ability to teach and inspire so they feature "ordinary" women (read: extraordinary) who share their stories and lessons. I have to admit... during this filming process, I really truly did feel like a goddess. These women are definition of women lifting up other women. Just think of the positive synergy we could create in this world if we all followed their lead! I believe in their work wholeheartedly. If you would like more information, please visit their site and consider becoming a member! … [Read more...]

We kept our homebirth plan pretty quiet. As an active duty military mother, prenatal health care is rigid. For insurance to cover birth, military women must give birth at the local military hospital L&D if there is one in a reasonable driving radius. When we found out we were expecting little Hank, I called the insurance company and asked if I could be down-graded to the plan of co-pays and the freedom to choose my provider. They quoted the military L&D/ reasonable radius rule and said no. I asked if they could stop me from paying out-of-pocket for my own provider and to that, they also said no. Sweet. I contacted the amazing, local birthing center and began dual-care with both the homebirth midwife and with the military facility.
My 39-week appointment at the military hospital unfolded exactly the way it had with Vivian 2 years earlier—I mean same hospital, same provider, same 39-week appointment, same “issue,” same battery of tests, same chaos. I couldn’t believe this was … [Read more...]

The human experience is quite a thing. We yearn to feel and yearn to escape feeling. We live from a place of needing to control but often find the best parts of our life were the uncontrollable surprises. We engage with others as separate and distinct entities but are repeatedly reminded of how completely interconnected we are.
In my experience, pregnancy has been a confronting examination of soul. And through the many hours of reflection this pregnancy, I’m starting to realize that this timing during is not a coincidence but a fantastically designed mechanism to share the human experience with a beautiful new soul.
I’d like to share a deeply personal testament to better illustrate this.
Ten months ago, I felt like nothing in my life was going right. Between the beginning of April and the end of May, I had lost a baby in miscarriage, lost my brother to suicide, and my husband had a devastating career change after a year and half of personal and family sacrifice. A month later, … [Read more...]